Much Ado About Nothing (2012 film)
Encyclopedia
Much Ado About Nothing is an independent film made by Joss Whedon
and based on the Shakespeare play of the same name
. The film is due to be released in 2012.
s. Whedon described the text as "a deconstruction of the idea of love, which is ironic, since the entire production is a love letter – to the text, to the cast, even to the house it’s shot in." The film was produced by Whedon, line-produced by Nathan Kelly and M. Elizabeth Hughes, and co-produced by Kai Cole and Danny Kaminsky.
Whedon asked the cast and crew to keep quiet about the project until principal photography was completed. The first public hint of the film came on Twitter
postings by actors Nathan Fillion
and Sean Maher
and costume designer Shawna Trpcic
on October 23, 2011.
s "because it sounded like it would be festive".
Clark Gregg, who was working with the director on The Avengers at the time, stepped in at very short notice to play the role of Leonato, which was originally intended for Anthony Head
who was unavailable.
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
and based on the Shakespeare play of the same name
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero....
. The film is due to be released in 2012.
Production
Much Ado About Nothing is the first feature from Bellwether, a micro-studio created by Whedon and his wife Kai Cole. It was shot entirely on location at Whedon's house in Santa Monica in 12 days. The film was shot in black and white by director of photography Jay Hunter, largely using hand-held cameraHand-held camera
Hand-held camera or hand-held shooting is a filmmaking and video production technique in which a camera is held in the camera operator's hands as opposed to being mounted on a tripod or other base. Hand-held cameras are used because they are conveniently sized for travel and because they allow...
s. Whedon described the text as "a deconstruction of the idea of love, which is ironic, since the entire production is a love letter – to the text, to the cast, even to the house it’s shot in." The film was produced by Whedon, line-produced by Nathan Kelly and M. Elizabeth Hughes, and co-produced by Kai Cole and Danny Kaminsky.
Whedon asked the cast and crew to keep quiet about the project until principal photography was completed. The first public hint of the film came on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
postings by actors Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion is a Canadian actor, currently starring as Richard Castle on the ABC series Castle. He is also known for his portrayal of the lead role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the television series Firefly and its feature film continuation, Serenity.He has acted in traditionally distributed...
and Sean Maher
Sean Maher
Sean Maher is an American actor, best known for his role as Simon Tam in the science fiction television series Firefly and followup movie Serenity.-Early life:...
and costume designer Shawna Trpcic
Shawna Trpcic
Shawna Trpcic is a Hollywood costume designer. She got her start in the industry with the 1990 film Megaville, and went on to work as a wardrobe assistant on the films Toys and Red Shoe Diaries...
on October 23, 2011.
Release
, no distributor has been found for the film. Whedon said that he hopes to take the film to film festivalFilm festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
s "because it sounded like it would be festive".
Cast
- Amy AckerAmy AckerAmy Louise Acker is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on the television series Angel as Winifred Burkle and Illyria and on Alias as Kelly Peyton. She is also known for her role as Dr. Claire Saunders/Whiskey on Dollhouse.-Early life:Acker was born and raised in Dallas, where she...
as Beatrice - Alexis DenisofAlexis DenisofAlexis Denisof is an American actor who is known for playing Wesley Wyndam-Pryce in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel.-Early life:...
as Benedick - Nathan FillionNathan FillionNathan Fillion is a Canadian actor, currently starring as Richard Castle on the ABC series Castle. He is also known for his portrayal of the lead role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the television series Firefly and its feature film continuation, Serenity.He has acted in traditionally distributed...
as DogberryDogberryDogberry is a self-satisfied night constable in Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing.In the play, Dogberry is the chief of the citizen-police in Messina. As is usual in Shakespearean comedy, and Renaissance comedy generally, he is a figure of comic incompetence... - Clark GreggClark GreggRobert Clark Gregg is an American actor, screenwriter and director. He co-starred as Christine Campbell's ex-husband Richard in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, which debuted in March 2006 and concluded in May 2010...
as Leonato - Reed DiamondReed DiamondReed Edward Diamond is an American actor. He is best known for the role of Det. Mike Kellerman on Homicide: Life on the Street and the role of recurring character Laurence Dominic on Dollhouse...
as Don Pedro - Fran KranzFran KranzFrancis Elliott Kranz is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Topher Brink in Joss Whedon's science fiction drama television series Dollhouse.-Early life:...
as Claudio - Jillian Morgese as Hero
- Sean MaherSean MaherSean Maher is an American actor, best known for his role as Simon Tam in the science fiction television series Firefly and followup movie Serenity.-Early life:...
as Don John - Spencer Treat ClarkSpencer Treat ClarkSpencer Treat Clark is an American actor who has appeared in several films, including Gladiator, Mystic River, and Unbreakable.-Life and career:...
as Borachio - Riki LindhomeRiki LindhomeRiki Lindhome is an American actress and musician. She is best known for television roles in shows including Gilmore Girls, House, The Big Bang Theory and United States of Tara and is also one half of the musical comedy duo Garfunkel And Oates...
as Conrade - Ashley JohnsonAshley JohnsonAshley Suzanne Johnson is an American actress, best known for her two-season role as Chrissy Seaver in the TV show Growing Pains, and for her voice work in television series such as Teen Titans and Ben 10 Alien Force....
as Margaret - Emma Bates as Ursula
- Tom LenkTom LenkThomas Loren "Tom" Lenk is an American stage and television actor best known for his recurring role as Andrew Wells in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel.-Early life:...
as Verges - Nick KocherBriTANicKBriTANicK is an internet sketch comedy duo from Atlanta, GA whose members attended New York University . The group's videos have been featured on major internet video sites including YouTube, CollegeHumor, Cracked, Break, and FunnyOrDie...
as First Watchman - Brian McElhaneyBriTANicKBriTANicK is an internet sketch comedy duo from Atlanta, GA whose members attended New York University . The group's videos have been featured on major internet video sites including YouTube, CollegeHumor, Cracked, Break, and FunnyOrDie...
as Second Watchman - Joshua Zar as Leonato’s aide
- Paul M. Meston as Friar Francis
- Romy RosemontRomy RosemontRomy Rosemont is a television actress who has appeared in multiple TV series, including Shark, Grey's Anatomy, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Prison Break and Private Practice. She got her break in 2010, playing Carole Hudson in the musical series Glee...
as The Sexton
Clark Gregg, who was working with the director on The Avengers at the time, stepped in at very short notice to play the role of Leonato, which was originally intended for Anthony Head
Anthony Head
Anthony Stewart Head , usually credited as Anthony Head, is an English actor and musician. He rose to fame in the UK following his role in television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend , and is known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Uther Pendragon in...
who was unavailable.